ABSTRACT
To report and evaluate the characteristics of patients referred to the emergency department of Labbafinejad Medical Center with work-related eye injuries during 2005. In this descriptive study, an available sample of patients with work-related eye injures were assessed. Demographic characteristics, causes of ocular trauma, and use of work safety devices were main evaluated variables. Overall, 99 subjects [96% male] with mean age of 31.76?10.55 years were enrolled. Mean time interval between the accident and referral to eye emergency was 2.46 +/- 4.46 days [0-30 days]. Of these, 66.6% came to the emergency ward on the first day after the incident and 37.1% underwent an eye examination at this center for the first time. The most unsafe activities were grinding [21.4%], welding [20.4%], hammering work [14.3%] and manual work [10.2%]. Metal industrial [50%], constructional [17.3%] and mechanical [8.2%] workers had the highest risk for eye injury among different occupations. The major consequence of eye injuries was corneal foreign bodies [72.7%]. Of injured patients, only 14 persons [14.1%] had passed job safety educational courses and 93 persons [93.9%] had not used any eye protection device. Most injured patients were young men workers using no safety devices; therefore it seems that occupational safety efforts including eye protection education and training programs in this context is insufficient